American Sign Museum

We visited the American Sign Museum at the end of fall. The museum is located in a warehouse district, which almost made us question if we were in the right spot, but the location made perfect sense once we saw the extensive collection of signs and the massive amount of space needed to house them. From the moment we arrived, the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made for a great start to the visit. We spent about an hour exploring the collection. The 'Main Street' layout was my personal favorite—it feels like walking onto a 1950s movie set. I also enjoyed seeing some of the iconic pieces like the McDonald’s sign and the massive Satellite Shopland sign. A few things that made our visit easier: The Tour: We used the self-guided tour available on their website. The audio tour really enhances the experience by providing the history behind the signs, so I'd definitely recommend bringing your own headphones to listen as you wander. Parking: There is a free parking lot right at the museum, so finding a spot was very easy despite the industrial location. Vibe: It’s a very relaxing environment and a photographer’s dream with all the vintage lighting. Overall, I walked away with some amazing photos and a great history lesson. It’s easily one of the most visually stunning and relaxing museum experiences I’ve had in a long time.

The American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the largest public museum of its kind in the United States, founded by Tod Swormstedt in 2005 to preserve the vanishing history of American signage. It celebrates a century of craftsmanship, charting the evolution from gold-leaf wooden signs to the dazzling neon and plastic eras. The museum’s features include a walk down a recreated "Main Street," where historic storefronts glow with hand-painted artistry and vibrant, buzzing neon. Visitors can witness the intricate process of neon tube bending in the on-site workshop, highlighting the technical grit behind these commercial landmarks. Walking through this luminous forest of history evokes a nostalgic warmth. It is a grounding reminder that even everyday commercial objects can reflect the soul and ambition of an era. For a visitor, it turns a simple city-view hotel stay into a deeper appreciation for the glowing landmarks that guide our journeys.

Never heard of this place until the Survivor Idol hunt event. Such a great display of signs. My sister joked that I would see all the signs of past jobs. We did spot a majority of them including Cassano’s Pizza King which was actually very impressive. The very old McDonalds sign was neat too. My son enjoyed the giant spinning “76” sign. Very great staff also. We’ll have to visit again.

First time visit and I think this is a good indoor option for folks visiting the Cincinnati area. Also, if you live in the area this is a must do site at least once. Very interesting history of signs witb a lot of local references. There are some demonstrations throughout the week. We visited on a Saturday and there was a neon tube forming demo that was fascinating. They also do informational tours that you can join to get more details on the displays. Reasonably priced with several options for discounts (seniors, military/veterans, students). Check out on line. You can get online tickets but not sure it is always necessary. Parking lot is available as well as some street parking. I recommend allowing 90 minutes to tour. Maybe a little longer if you join a tour or watch a demo. Just give yourself plenty of time to read the displays and see all of the signs.

I had so much fun here on my birthday! It’s a small museum so you can easily get through it in an hour. Take your time and look at everything. An amazing array of typography and sign making through history! And it’s so fun to watch the neon sign artist in his shop!

​If you love vintage vibes and neon lights, this is a must-see! It’s basically an indoor city of glowing history. Super photogenic, well-maintained, and surprisingly educational. Make sure to check out the neon workshop in the back to see how they keep these beauties alive! 💡✨

Awesome experience! If your significant other likes taking pictures bring them here!! Being able to pop in and out of the guided tour is great and we found ourselves walking over to listen to the tour guide more than once! The parking lot can be a bit crowded but that’s the only downside.

What an incredible place! Cincinnati is so very fortunate to have such an amazing musuem. Very well displayed, unbelievable how captivating the signs are! Even the smallest details of the store fascias, so entertaining to look at every nook and craney!! Absolutely a stunning job by anyone and everyone who helped make this the place it is! 👏👏👏

The American Sign Museum is honestly one of the coolest spots I've been to in Cincinnati. Walking through feels like stepping back in time--there are neon signs, old storefronts, and all kinds of vintage pieces that light up the place. It's colorful, fun, and way more interesting than I expected. The staff are super friendly and know a ton about the history behind the signs, which makes the visit even better. I loved seeing signs from old local restaurants and businesses--it's nostalgic if you grew up around here, but even if you didn't, it's still fascinating. The museum is clean, easy to get around, and perfect for families, couples, or anyone who just wants to do something different. It's not too expensive either, which is a nice bonus. If you're in Cincinnati, this is a must-see. It's unique, memorable, and you'll leave with a whole new appreciation for something you probably never thought much about before--signs!

The history of commercial and promotional SIGNS in America. This may be something you never thought about, but it's a fascinating study and this museum walks you through the development of sign technology and design while providing a dazzling visual experience. From early wood/metal, composition, through gas then electric powered illumination, moving signs, animated signs, neon letters and artwork, logos, characters and more. As you move through the museum there is posted information in every section about the era and the types of materials and sign trends of the time, and some fascinating backstories on the history and acquisition of various pieces. There is also a workshop where restorations are done, and a little movie theatre showing a film of the processes. Quite a number of steps in bending a neon tube to spell out a word but we saw it happen. I would allow a good hour for the whole experience. Don't rush through it. The exhibits are all on one level and it's fully accessible. The admission price seemed a little high, but considering what their electric bill is probably like, it's fair. There's a good veterans discount. Plenty of free parking. Recommended!

I honestly didn't plan on going. I had it on my map of places to see while I was in Cincinnati. While I was driving from one place to another, it was on the way and I figured there wouldn't be any harm in taking a few minutes and checking it out. It is an extremely well done, small museum. While I could imagine that in the process of setting this up that they could get lost in the stories of the businesses themselves, they didn't waiver on their dedication to educating me about the signs. When they did talk about the companies, it had to do with signage and a particular sign's history. Cincinnati was a random weekend get away from me. While I enjoyed the city, I do have to say that if I go back and bring someone with me, there is no way we WON'T go to the American Sign Museum. If for nothing else, that few minutes of late 90s nostalgia for Austin Powers was enough to put me over the top.

Found this place thru social media and it didn't disappoint, felt like a hidden gem! Great place to see some cool signs and it felt really immersive as if you're in a whole other era. Perfect for date night! They do have discounts for students and seniors which is a plus! Great place for photos ops

Unique travel through time experience [Cincinnati OH] This museum in Cincinnati about commercial signs and sign-making (neon bending demonstration) has it all. It covers 20,000 square feet of indoor space and over a century of American history... I didn't recognize many of the signs since I'm not a century old, even though I may look it LoL! The signs dated back from early 1950's and even goes back in 1900's plus I didn't grow up in the Midwest so I wasn't familiar with these businesses but I was so wide-eyed in fascination with all the lights, colors and shapes all around me especially on "Main Street." I did recognize the Shell (gas station) and Colonel Sanders (KFC). Admission was $20 for adults. We spent about an hour in the museum. There is a gift shop as you enter. Plenty of parking on their private lot including street parking. Fun place to visit. If you are in the Cincinnati area and are looking for something different, the American Sign Museum is worth a visit. The museum covered more than 100 years of American sign history. Instagram: @americansignmuseum Review #3884

We were fortunate enough to be invited for a cocktail evening at the museum. It was a great event and we got to hear the backstory on how the museum was founded and the early history. They have a new book detailing the museum and its history of 25 years. We really enjoy the museum but being there at night was really cool to see the signs outside lite up. If you have not been there I highly recommend seeing it for yourself.

I volunteer at a local aircraft museum and an antique neon sign was donated that need some work. They have a shop that repairs signs and so we brought our WACO sign in. They knew right away what it needed and gave us a reasonable quote to repair it. While we were there we also went through the Museum. Such a cool place! Signs from all over the US and all varieties. Some I remember ( McDonalds, Burma Shave, Sinclair gas,) many I don't think I ever saw. Such a very cool place to spend some time! And parking is free in back. It's worth a visit. It gets a recommend!

One of our favorite anniversary trips has been to Cincy last year. The year prior, we were in northern Kentucky and realized we were only an hour or so drive from Queen City, so we drove there across the Ohio. Found this museum and fell in love with the color, history, self guided tour, and interesting signs that still look as beautiful today. We can't wait to see what else is in store with the gift shop, workshop/classes, and more!

Very cool museum. Great signs and figures from history. i learned a lot. 20 dollar admission a little steep.

Three generations (26-85 years) of our family went here today and really enjoyed it! It's a fun place for the whole family, even babies would enjoy the lights and colors! We got a family pass that includes two adults (me and hubby) and four guest passes. Individually, it would have cost us $90 to get in the door but the season's pass was $75 and we still have one guest pass to take someone else.

Very cool place. You can't miss it driving up- signs all along the side of the building. You can park by them, on the street, but there is a mid-size lot by the main entrance. A few spaces in it on a Sunday near the holidays. Hours are 10-4 Weds-Sun. Inside, friendly staff, a small gift shop, and signs. Everywhere. Many neon, but also metal, porcelain coated, gold leaf, and more. Small placards for each with a bit of history, but mainly you just walk around mouth agape. They are cool, and nostalgic, and sometimes huge. A little expensive, sure, but where else are you going to see big neon signs lit up? They used to be everywhere. Kids are free. Senior discounts. It's worth a detour. Maybe not a special trip- it's not huge- but as part of a family get-together in our case, or a Cinci trip for the aquarium or Childrens' museum etc., a fun hour.

This was my favorite thing we did on our vacation while in the area. We did a lot of stuff but it really stood out. We loved walking around and of course my son managed to find something he wanted from the gift shop. I'd highly recommend coming here if in the area!

Cool and neat but not $20 per person cool and neat. Yeah I know the money not only pays for staff, upkeep and obtaining new memorabilia, but honestly I feel like $10-$12 maybe $15 per person is more in line. Now, don'y get me wrong, it's a neat place to reminisce about old businesses we don't see anymore. The staff were welcoming and the place was clean. Is it a must/see, not exactly. Was it cool to check out, yes of course!

This place is so fun Signs everywhere Neon signs wood signs and so much more You walk in and it's full of colors and fun memories from childhood It's not a huge museum but there is so much you could miss something So glad we went!!

This had been on my list for a while and I talked the hubby into taking a ride with me. I really like the art and the history of old American signs. I am 64 years old and saw a lot of signs from my childhood. The other thing I liked was they showed some of the kits that the salesman carried and the people who worked on the signs their tools of the trade like their paint brushes and such. They even had signs that were still in their crate that had never been open to be used. I really liked this place and I saw that the kids that were looking had a scavenger hunt page in their hands I found it as I was on my way out so if you stop don't forget to grab one of those at the beginning. Also along the outside are the really big signs so don't forget to take a drive down the street along the side of the building.

Much more interesting than you might think! The American Sign Museum is a passion project. The contents are well displayed with informative descriptions. There are also areas with contemporary signs created using historic techniques. We spent more time in the video room than expected because it was so interesting. There are event rooms, making the museum an interesting choice for a corporate event.

How can anyone not be impressed by flashing neon lights! Everyone in our group loved our experience. We had young and old including a nine year old and a teenager. Bright lights and nostalgia is a perfect combination. We really enjoyed the movie in the theater explaining the origins of some of the signs. This is a must see stop if you are in Cincinnati.

Such a great museum with incredibly preserved history. Admission fee is modest. Definitely a must see when visiting Cincy.

Great history of our country's sign development. Easy self paced tour and after watching the movie at the end of the tour, we backtracked to see some sights we missed.

CINCINNATI - Loves me a somewhat quixotic museum, like the Cold War Museum outside Manassas, Va., or this collection of mostly 20th century advertisements. It's almost like an art museum; you learn some things while you're there, but really you go to experience the designs and colors and aesthetics. Mmmmaybe a bit expensive at $20, but like the Rock HoF it's worth partaking at least once.

I was on bus tour and stopped here. Pretty cool place. I really enjoyed it. It's not something you would think to do but im glad they found this for us to do.

This is such a cool museum! I have been wanting to make it in whenever I visit Cincinnati, and I am happy I finally did! I brought my boyfriend to my hometown and the American Sign Museum was one of the stops that I had planned. My brother also joined us. All three of us really enjoyed our time here and learned something new! There's so much to look at and learn about. I had no idea so much when into signs, coloring, and lettering. The history was interesting, too. There was a 20 minute informational video that played that was in-depth about each part of the museum, which was a nice overview. The "Main Street USA" area was so cool and made for some really unique and memorable pictures. Overall, it was a great visit! All the employees we spoke to were really friendly and knowledgeable. I definitely want to come back once the expansion is complete.

This is one of the coolest museums I've visited. It's laid out well and there is something interesting everywhere you look. Most of the museum is laid out like a city street so you feel right in the action. I also enjoyed the timeline to show the evolution of signage throughout history. It took us only about 30 minutes to walk through on our own but they also offer guided tours at specific times. Parking was free and it was easy to get to from Downtown Cincy.

There are a number of reasons why you should visit Cincinnati - it's a lovely city, they have some decent sports teams if that's a thing, they have great art museums, they have a vibrant downtown area and they have some excellent restaurants in all different price ranges. But none of those are a stronger reason to visit than the American Sign Museum. It's not cheap but it is a unique experience that can be enjoyed by all ages. The collection of signs here, inside and out, is without peer. The explanation of how advertising signs have changed throughout the years is wonderful. It's a tremendous museum and you do not want to miss it! Five stars! [Review 20500 overall - 227 in Ohio - 1481 of 2023.]

A unique museum you must visit in Cincinnati. It's not a huge museum, but it has so much culture and history to see inside. The cost $15 for adults and $10 for students- it's reasonable. This place has its own free parking lot and a short drive from downtown. One of the large exhibits I liked was McDonald's neon sign from 1960's Alabama.

My wife and I visited this museum and absolutely love it. Signs are a strong visual connector to the history of America. We lived looking at this history and remembering when and where we saw these signs, and even more to see the level of artistry, science and craftsmanship that went into producing them. The interior layout and design is fantastic and very professional. All the signs are operational and many have been restored, so it's like seeing it for the first time versus a boneyard. In the last area there is a small food and seating area as well, which looked to be fully used by families. They also had free water and nice bathrooms. It is located in an older industrial area of town, which fits its ethos. There is quite a bit of parking available as well. I highly recommended the American Sign Museum and hope they continue to grow and expand.

A cute little sign museum while we were there. Small with a little gift shop but we like the scavenger hunt. Got a cute little magnet for our magnet wall and took some cute pictures. Not a really big place but no one has signs anymore so this was a nice visit to reminiscent the sign histories and to see how they make the signs. We enjoyed it just for the pictures for memories alone. But it is a one and done thing. However we're glad we paid a visit.

Although the space is much smaller than you think, the American Sign Museum is an instagram-worthy space that is worth the 30-minute walkthrough. You feel instantly transported back to the days of roller skate carhops and transatlantic accents found only in shoddy b&w detective films. Love this place!

We had a great time visiting the sign museum! I loved learning about the history of signs in advertising and the materials used over time. It's not super big, so it was manageable in an hour or so, and the kids stayed entertained throughout.

This museum exceeded my expectations. Make sure you attend the free 45 minute guided tour and the neon making demonstration.

I didn't even know this place existed for years so I was excited to check it out! While it may not be a huge place, it is packed with signs. If you're a fan of neon and vintage signs this is definitely worth checking out. They even have a neon shop on site. We spent about 30 minutes here but I still thought the price of admission was fair. An audio tour is available with the price of admission as well. My favorite part of the museum was the area that was designed to still look like a street. I thought it was well done. Worth checking out at least once if you're in the area!

This museum will bring back so many memories for the baby boomers and others. I just loved all the colors and old signs I remember from my Childhood. I want to think all involved in keeping and restoring these signs and memorable for making signs. They even have a library about sign making, designing, etc. They do have a $15 admission, $10 if you are over 65. But, well worth it considering they probably have a huge light bill...LOL! This is a must see in "Cincy". Free parking, but small parking lot.

If you're looking for a place to get retro photos, this is the place! I went here with my mother and was amazed at the set they made from using all of these signs. My mom pointed out which ones she'd always see when she was a kid and it brought back so many memories for her. I was interested in getting photos of the place and it did not disappoint!

American Sign Museum has a vast American signage collection from 1870 through 1970. The founder and owner of the museum, Tod Swormstedt, had began collecting signs since 1999. He decided to open a museum dedicated to signs in 2005. However because of the size of some signs being too big for the museum, he had to find another location. So in 2012, he moved his museum to its current location now, which was a former parachute factory four times the size of the former museum. With 28-foot-high ceilings it has room for all but the tallest of Tod Swormstedt's signs. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for senior citizens, first responders and college students. Tours are available only on Saturday and Sunday, and is included with your admission price. It does annoy me that the employee who helped us out when we paid for our admission did not bother to inform us about the tour, which really would have enhanced our experience from the beginning. After we were done with most of our visit, we saw a large docent led tour and so we just joined in for a part of it. Anyways, this museum has many, many signs that are all very different and utilizes different material, has different styles that is with the times it was made, etc. There is just one sign that I wanted to share about, the Big Boy sign. This smiling fiberglass Big Boy his holding a very large cheeseburger and has a slingshot in his back pocket. This sign is from the 1960's. From the plaque that I read, later on (in the 1980's), the stripes on his overalls were changed to checkered overalls. Also in the 1990's, his slingshot was removed. Although I did not read this at the museum, in 2016, Big Boy was redesigned and was drawn slimmer. Then the following year, his beloved slingshot was added back to the design. My husband and I spent a little over an hour here on our visit reading most of the plaques, view the view towards the back of the museum and tour the entire museum. There are clean restrooms right past where you pay for your admission. There is a small gift store. Parking is free. It was a good visit for this museum but would highly recommend looking into the free tour if you end up coming on the weekends.

We had a great time at the American sign Museum. There are hundreds of neon signs from all over the country. The signs are displayed on a "Main Street" which is dazzling. My favorite sign was for Kona bowling. I also liked the vintage McDonald's sign which showed the burgers were $.15. I also liked the spinning Frisch's big boy. It was a great place to spend a hot summer afternoon in Cincinnati.

Such a cute small museum! Took one of my friends who was visiting Cincinnati here and was surprised by how much fun we had. We initially walked through the whole museum in about 20 mins and thought that was it. I HIGHLY recommend you take the tour, because that's what we did next. It was interesting and entertaining to understand the context and history for the signs. After the tour, there's an opportunity to see a demo of neon sign making in their in-house workshop. I also HIGHLY recommend doing this. The only thing I wish was that this museum was bigger, because we were left wanting more. They're planning on expanding soon though!

Small but very interesting museum. I highly recommend watching the short but very informative film about the museum itself and the signs on display. Do that first. It gives you a whole other perspective and you will see things you missed before. We actually revisited a few sign after watching the film and then noticed so may additional details that we had previously missed, simply because we had no clue. Cool photo ops and signs outside the museum, in the parking lot and the side of the museum. Is it the Smithsonian? No, but it is one of a kind and worth a visit. If you are older, many of the sign may remind you of businesses long gone and take you on a trip down memory lane. I, for one, won't look at signs the same way again. Now I can dazzle others with my vast sign knowledge.

Very interesting! Wide array of signs, types of signs, the history of the technology. Signs from all over the country (maybe the world too but I didn't pay that close of attention). Very friendly staff Clean facility. Cooler stop than you might think!

It's worth a visit. Although...keep in mind it is a small place. Admission is reasonable. It is neat to see all the signs and lights from the illuminated signs. There is a small gift shop as well. I enjoyed it. Stop in and see for yourself. Enjoy

This is the second time I've been to this location. The cost is $15 per person. It's fascinating to me that someone had the passion to do the research and begin to save, house and organize so many different signs throughout the past. There is so much visual information that you need to leave and re enter sections to catch it all. There is a scavenger hunt, a QR code that you can scan for a guided tour and a video presentation at the past. If you are looking for a novel gift, definitely visit the gift shop before you go. You'd never guess that this museum is hidden in this area. There is a parking lot, which is where you enter.

It was cool to see old signs we grew up with but not worth the money as it only took us 30 min to see everything.

Highly recommend this museum it's a hidden gem for sure with a lot of cool signs and a lot of historical items to boot! Well worth checking out!

I had the privilege of visiting the American Sign Museum. Visitors should plan on spending about 60-70 minutes here. If you are in the Cincinnati area you don't want to miss this museum. Museum gives you a view on the history of signage as well as multiple artifacts. There is an anticipated 20,000 feet expansion which will be very interesting. Artifacts are both local and national. Really great museum!

This is a wonderful museum! I'd had a few people mention to me that I needed to check it out, and this ended up being a fantastic place to stop on a chilly Saturday when we had just over an hour before our dinner reservations. There's plenty of parking available in a private lot ... we showed up at a peak time, and were still able to find a good spot quickly. There's also several fun signs to look at before you even walk into the museum. We arrived with only about an hour until they closed, but we probably wouldn't have wanted to stay much longer than that. The ticket prices are comparable to CMC and other local museums at $15/adult. The displays are incredibly well done: the signs are positioned in a way to illustrate their history, and show the transition from hand-painted to neon. There are endless photo opportunities ... but there's so much to learn from reading the descriptions beneath the signs. There are also multiple spots throughout the museum where they pay homage to Cincinnati's sign history ... it's fun seeking out those little local shoutouts. The gift shop was a decent size ... and not nearly as "in your face" as some other museums around town. The only other thing I might have liked is an interactive element ... I think there was an attempt at this, with a coloring station for kids, and a movie playing in the back room. I will definitely be back when my family is in town to show them this fantastic spot ... and after reading some other Yelp reviews, I think we'll just have to do the guided tour as well.

I wanted to check out the American Sign Museum while we were in Cincinnati and I'm glad that we did. It was really cool to check out all of the signs and read about the history of sign making. With that being said, the museum was a lot smaller than I anticipated, which is fine. We blocked off hours to check out the museum but we were there between 30-45 min. They also have a cute little gift shop at the end. If you're in the area, this museum is definitely worth checking out. They have alot of great photo ops as well if that is your thing. Enjoy!

This place is absolutely great! Recommend bringing your earbuds or headphones and plug into the audio guide. We purchased our tickets online before going in but could have purchased them at the counter as well. There was plenty of parking in a private lot. Our visit lasted 80 minutes but we took our time, taking it all in. Some of the highlights were the Large and the Small letter signs, Neon Signs, the Gold & Glass technique signs. I even learned about smalts. The Lightbulb area signs, and Main Street USA were some of my favorite areas! There were even signs still in the original shipping containers. I loved it. Such a cool visit! It was $15 per adult bit notices other pricing and discounts were offered. The supplemental guided audio tour really added to the visit and secured it as a five star experience for me!

The American Sign Museum has got to be one of the coolest museums around! My partner and I stopped by and checked it out during a recent trip to Cincy and we're blown away. I won't go into all details as many reviewers already have but I will say that you definitely won't be disappointed! It's so cool! I absolutely recommend this museum!!

What a fun little gem of a place! The care that goes into these signs is incredible! What a cool idea!!

Such a unique and interesting museum. It's a small museum (they mentioned it's doubling in size after they finish the new addition), but it's so easy to wipe away hours here, between exploring the signs, taking the tour (Alex was a really fun guide), plus attending the neon tube bending demo. The neon tube demonstration is a must-see if you attend and it's offered twice on Saturdays, right after the museum tour. But, if you can't attend that demo, you can still watch them working in the window between the museum and the company that makes and repairs the neon sign.